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SEASONS GREETINGS AND HAPPY RUNNING IN 2009! FROM THE OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND! NEWS REGISTER EARLY! Already planning for the 2009 Ottawa Race Weekend? Register early to get a jump on race season and save on entry fees for all 2009 Ottawa Race Weekend events. You can register online, by mail, or in person at any Running Room location. But fees increase as of February 15, 2009, so register now and make your commitment! Visit www.runottawa.ca for more details. IAAF HONORS 2009 OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND Year after year the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has recognized the Ottawa Marathon and MDS Nordion 10K as being among the world’s elite road races. This distinction continues in 2009, as the IAAF has awarded its Silver Label designation to both the Ottawa Marathon and the MDS Nordion 10K events. As the world governing body for Track and Field and Road Running, the IAAF awards Gold and Silver Labels to mark the world’s best-organized and most prestigious road races. More than a significant honor, the IAAF Silver Label is a clear sign of our commitment to building a world-class road race. It tells runners everywhere that when you compete in the Ottawa Marathon or the MDS Nordion 10K events, you can expect to run with the best. Visit www.iaaf.org to learn more! CHECK OUT OUR NEW ONLINE COMMUNITY Ottawa Race Weekend recently partnered with realbuzz.com to launch a free online community at www.runottawa.ca. Our online running community features a variety of tools to enhance your training and race preparation, including blogs, a forum, training plans, training logs and a route planner. As one of the first road races in Canada to introduce an online community, we think it will be a great way for runners to connect and share information, as well as being a fun way to hone your training regimen and track your progress. The Blog feature lets runners and walkers write about their personal experiences in an “online diary” format. For example, you could write about your latest training program, or your running history, or simply about why you love to run – anything that inspires you to write! The Forum feature provides an online message board where you can ask questions and share information about running, training and Ottawa Marathon events with other members of the online community. YOUTH ATHLETIC SERIES: RESULTS ARE IN Last year the Ottawa Race Weekend introduced a new “Youth Athletic Series” for male and female runners 19 years and younger, which featured young athletes competing in a series of races for a chance to win a $1000 scholarship and other prizes. Points were awarded to the top five finishers at selected local events, with the $1000 scholarship going to the male and female runners with the most points at the end of the series, and merchandise prizes going to the four runners up. The 2008 results are in! The winners of the $1000 scholarship are Tyson Loney and Lindsay Anderson. See the standings below for the complete list of the top runners in each division: Male Female Tyson Loney Lindsay Anderson Tommy DesBrisay Joanna Brown Danny Menard Jade Gregory Thor Stewart Nick Gregory The 2009 Youth Athletic Series kicks off on Sunday, January 18, with the Richmond Road Races 5K event. The full 2009 Youth Athletic Series schedule will be posted at www.runottawa.ca in early December. ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP NEWS The 5th annual National Athletic Scholarship was awarded to Lindsay Carson, a first-year Biological Engineering student from Guelph University. The National Athletic Scholarship is a $4000 bursary intended to encourage rising stars in the Canadian running scene. Each year it is awarded to a promising young Canadian track athlete. To apply for the 2009 National Athletic Scholarship, click here. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m., Monday February 16. The winner will be notified by Wednesday April 1st, 2009. VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP With the 2009 Ottawa Race Weekend fast approaching, we’re looking to recruit more volunteers. We need everybody to encourage their friends, family, and neighbors to come out and lend a hand with the Ottawa Race Weekend. We need volunteers for a variety of roles – from Registration and Race Kit Pick-up to Start/Finish Line Volunteers. For more information on volunteering with the Ottawa Race Weekend, click here. NORTEL KIDS MARATHON After a successful first year, we are ramping up for another great Nortel Kids Marathon in 2009. A package will be sent to a school representative at each school in early January (2009). The package will include a T-shirt, finisher medal, posters, registration forms, and tracker sheet. Teachers can use the material included in the package to teach students about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, and to show students what they will receive when they register for the Nortel Kids Marathon. With the cap for the event being set at 2000 runners, this race will fill up quickly. So be sure to register early. You can either register with the forms sent home from school with your child, or online at the Nortel Kids Marathon registration page. KEEPING PACE WITH PAST SUCCESS Some of you may be wondering how the absence of a title sponsor will affect the 2009 Ottawa Race Weekend experience. The short answer is, “not at all!” This year we have a budget in place that doesn't require a sponsor. And we will continue to offer a great product that provides runners with the same world-class race experience that they’ve come to expect from the Ottawa Race Weekend. “We're not going to decrease the number of water stations, or lower the quality of the shirts, or cancel the expo, or make any other move that would lower the standard for our events," says John Halvorsen, Race Director. In fact, Halvorsen and other race officials are adamant that runners will see absolutely no difference moving forward – except for the lack of a sponsor name on their T-shirts. MESSAGE FROM THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL RAISE FUNDS, RUN FOR FREE! Did you know that the MDS Nordion Ottawa Hospital Race Weekend Challenge is the official charity partner of Ottawa Race Weekend? Every year thousands of people in our community run for a reason by raising pledges for The Ottawa Hospital. In 2008, members of the community raised over $500,000 by running for various reasons – from honouring a loved one, to investing in better patient care at the hospital. So why not join them and choose your reason to run for The Ottawa Hospital? After all, supporting excellent health care in our community while you run will make the journey that much sweeter. Plus, if you raise $150 or more, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation will reimburse your race registration fee! Running for a reason is as easy as 1, 2, 3: For more information or to register for the MDS Nordion Ottawa Hospital Race Weekend Challenge, email events@ottawahospital.on.ca or visit www.ohfoundation.ca When training for a marathon, you discover how to go the distance by balancing stress and rest. Running can provide a special sense of satisfaction and achievement. You discover how simple, small changes can ultimately have a huge impact on your health, fitness and quality of life. As you progress through your training, you become fitter, have more energy and feel more balanced. It can be both a social and a deeply personal activity, helping you to develop clarity in thinking and calmness. Training is not a test, but rather a magical journey that will empower you mentally and physically, helping you cultivate a “can do” attitude. Click here to read more.The Pulse (December)
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
The Route Planner lets runners/walkers map out training routes using detailed interactive maps and satellite images of their area – no more driving the route or estimating the mileage!
TRAINING TIP FROM JOHN STANTON
